Naval Warfare

Naval Warfare is a top-down twin-stick arcade shooter set in a steampunk-inspired aquatic world. Players command various warships, engaging in fast-paced combat with a mix of primary weapons, special attacks, and mercenary squads. The game offers a short campaign lasting around 2-4 hours, with local multiplayer but no online mode. While the graphics and art style receive consistent praise for their dieselpunk aesthetic and hand-drawn cutscenes, many players find the controls unintuitive and frustrating, especially when using keyboard and mouse. Controller support improves the experience but lacks customization options. The story and voice acting are generally seen as mediocre or cheesy, with some players appreciating the atmosphere but others criticizing the weak narrative and poor voice performances. Technical issues such as bugs, graphical glitches, and compatibility problems (notably with Nvidia cards and multi-monitor setups) are frequently reported. Despite these flaws, the game is considered a decent casual experience if purchased at a steep discount, but not worth full price.

Highlights

Players praise Naval Warfare's unique steampunk aquatic setting and visually appealing graphics with detailed hand-drawn cutscenes. The gameplay mechanics, centered on twin-stick shooting and ship variety, offer enjoyable arcade-style action, especially when using a gamepad. The local co-op mode adds fun multiplayer moments. The game’s short campaign provides a light, casual experience with some strategic elements like commanding mercenary squads and choosing ship classes. Many appreciate the game’s charm and low price point during sales.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include poor and unintuitive controls, particularly with keyboard and mouse, making movement frustrating due to misaligned directional inputs. The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, including game-breaking issues like invincible bosses and graphical flickering, especially on Nvidia GPUs. The voice acting is often described as annoying or cheesy, and the storyline is considered weak or nonsensical. Technical problems such as slow menu performance and lack of online multiplayer detract from the experience. The short game length and repetitive gameplay also limit replayability.